Need some help!

[uforgot]

This summer I'm working at a residential care facility for troubled teens. (Many of these guys have seen so much pain, neglect and abuse in their short lives.) Anyway, I'm teaching summer school, and I have a group of girls. Along with math and reading, I would like to give them a great, fun summer. The facility has enough bikes we can fix up, but I'd like to get some ideas on how to get some helmets for them. The administration has approved taking them and a trailer of bikes to the local rail trails for field trips. Any ideas? Thanks.

[DirtDiva]

How many of them are there? Perhaps you could talk to any LBSes/helmet manufacturers/sports megastores/anywhere that has helmets and see if they want to donate some to the program? Also, there must be organisations in your area you could apply for a grant from..? I mean, it sounds like a great cause and you don't need anything flash and expensive to keep them safe. Could be a bit of a pain in the bum to organise, but worth it if it works out.

[makbike]

Try contacting your local brain injury association, they may be able to help you with this project. You might also contact your local childrens hospital and see if they can put you in touch with an organization that would be willing to help you as well.

Sounds like a great project. Good luck and enjoy your summer.

[bike4ever]

Call Children's Hospital in St. Louis. They have a nice helmet program. If that doesn't work, call me at the Alpine Shop (Kirkwood) - I'll help.
Traci

[Veronica]

How many helmets do you think you need?

V.

[Tuckervill]

I'll donate a bike helmet! Or a Wal-Mart/Target/Sears/Wherever gift card for one. I'll bet some folks here would, too.

How many helmets do you need?

I've seriously thought about keeping a brand new spare helmet in my trunk for offering to people I see without one.

Karen

[JoyfulGirl]

You might try calling your local fire station... The district I'm in provides helmets for something like 5 dollars each to the general public, and I'm betting they'd hand em out to kids that really just needed someone to do something kind for them. Not sure how your fire district works but it might be worth a shot.

[mimitabby]

I'll donate a bike helmet! Or a Wal-Mart/Target/Sears/Wherever gift card for one. I'll bet some folks here would, too.

How many helmets do you need?

I've seriously thought about keeping a brand new spare helmet in my trunk for offering to people I see without one.

Karen

hey Tuckervill, what do you say to the people you see going down the road with an unlatched helmet on?

[uforgot]

I just got home, and am overwhelmed by the replies! Thanks so much to everyone for their replies and offers. I'm going to try the helmet program at Children's hospital in St. Louis, then the brain injury association and the firehouse. All great ideas and places for me to start! I have 11 girls right now, but they move in and out so I was going to try for a dozen. I thought if we could get the bikes up and running (I'm going to make the girls repair, clean and lube!!) that all of the teachers and students could have access to bikes AND helmets. Imagine, some of these kids don't even know how to ride a bike! I just assumed that was part of childhood. sigh. I'll give everyone an update and let you know how these organizations work out. How great it is that you guys are offering to donate helmets and gift cards. I wish each and every girl was sitting here with me reading these posts so that maybe they could see how many adults care about them and that they are certainly worth caring about! A lot of these kids have no one. Believe it or not, some parents drop them off and say they don't want to see or hear from their children ever again. The stories break your heart, and some of them would curl your toes.

Thanks again, and I'll let ya know if I want to act on those offers!

[Tuckervill]

hey Tuckervill, what do you say to the people you see going down the road with an unlatched helmet on?

Can't say that I've ever noticed! But I have caught myself taking off without my helmet latched after a little break!

What should I say to them?

Karen

[latelatebloomer]

Oh, uforgot! this is one of those situations that makes me wish I had deeper pockets! Actually, that I had pockets at all BUT! if you come up short, let me know. I facilitate a day program for a group of men who had severe brain injuries. We have a garden and raffle off produce baskets to generate a little income for activities and charitable giving. (It helps the guys feel like they can have a productive impact in the world even if they can't hold regular jobs.) It sounds like you've got some great resources, but if you come up short, I think we could donate a helmet - especially to protect somebody's brain! The guys are so worried that I'm going to forget my helmet and get hurt. The first time I rode to work, they passed my helmet around and inspected it.

Sounds like our jobs are a little similar, actually. It sounds like you are doing great stuff. (off topic a little, what books are the girls reading?)

[uforgot]

Yes, I did find some great resources and am actively pursuing them. While going to various websites, I really got an education on brain injuries! The brain injury association was really full of information and videos I could get. Anything to prevent this from happening needlessly. My hat is off to you and the good you are doing. They obviously care about you!

As for the books, right now we are starting with The Giver. I'm a math teacher during the year, but I have a close friend who teaches English and she is helping. She recommended this to start along with loads of activities. If you have any suggestions along those lines, I'd really appreciate any input I can get.

[makbike]

What a great book to start with. I love the ending for it does generate some great class discussions. There is a sequel to the book but I've not read it (I teach 7th grade science but taught reading a couple of years ago when we were in a pinch). I do know there is a great activity book that goes along with The Giver that we picked up at our local Parent-Teacher store. Enjoy your summer job, the girls (they are so luck to have you as a teacher and mentor). Keep us posted on your helment project.

[Tuckervill]

The Giver is part of a trilogy which includes Messenger and Gathering Blue. The stories don't really correlate, but once you read a second one, you get the feeling that they belong together.

Some of my favs, and I don't think they're necessarily children's books.

Karen